Obituaries

Joel Opatut

Mr. Opatut, 82, of the West End section of Long Branch, died Sept. 23 at home. He was a Holocaust survivor, as were his three brothers. Born in Szadek, Poland, he arrived in the United States with his wife and son in 1949. He and his brothers purchased a chicken farm in Freehold, which became Colonial Foods Inc. He was the chairman of Colonial Foods/Colonial Marketing Associates, Freehold Township, and a director of American Planned Communities. Mr. Opatut was a member of Temple Beth El, Oakhurst. He was also a benefactor of both the Frances Opatut Junior High School in Lakewood and an orphanage in Beer Sheva, Israel; the donor of the Joel Opatut Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch; a member of the U.S. Committee Sports for Israel, as well as the Founders Club of Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach, Fla.; a past board member of the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation; a founder of Congregation Sons of Israel, Lakewood; and a supporter of Israel bonds. Freehold Township's Opatut Park was named in his honor for his donation to the township of 136 acres. Mr. Opatut and his family were the underwriters of the restoration of the Szadek, Poland, cemetery, where his family members are buried. He was predeceased in 1977 by his wife, Frances. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Abraham S. and Susan Opatut of Freehold Township; two daughters and sons-in-law, Arlene and Bernard Hammer of Lakewood, and Toby and Steven Rofsky of Freehold Township; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and special friend Rachel Troper. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Beth Israel Memorial Park, Woodbridge. Shiva was observed at his former residence.

Carlotta Tisah Erbrecht

Mrs. Erbrecht, 72, of Marlboro, died Sept. 24 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Liverpool, England, she had lived in Colts Neck before moving to Marlboro 10 years ago. She was a communicant of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, Marlboro. Mrs. Erbrecht is survived by her husband of 48 years, Gunter Erbrecht; a son, John Erbrecht of Summit; and two daughters, Jacqueline Ettinger of Seattle and Annette Erbrecht of Brandywine, Md. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Gabriel's Church, followed by interment at St. Gabriel's Cemetery, also Marlboro. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.

Vincent Coppola

Mr. Coppola, 73, of Manalapan, died Sept. 25 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He was born in Naples, Italy, and for most of his life had lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he owned many Italian restaurants and pizzerias. After retiring four years ago, he moved to Manalapan, spending the winters in Delray Beach, Fla. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Concetta and Elwood Class of Manalapan; two sisters, Antoinetta Coppola and Angelina Mancini, both of Naples, Italy; and two grandchildren, Olivia and Alex Class. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Manalapan, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.

Lillian Grossman

Mrs. Grossman, 83, of Cincinnati, died Sept. 4 at The Anderson Nursing Home, Anderson Township, Ohio. Born in New York, she resided in Freehold before moving to Cincinnati six years ago. Prior to her retirement, she worked for Frequency Engineering, Farmingdale. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Solomon. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Robin Grossman of Lakewood; a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy (Harriet) and Byron Baxter of Richmond, Ohio; a brother, Edward Yoslowitz of Brooklyn; and one grandson. Services were held at Freehold Hebrew Benefit Society Cemetery, Freehold. Arrangements were under the direction of Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold.

Enriqueta Masecampo Burnham

Mrs. Burnham, 69, of Tyrone, Ga., died Sept. 7 at Heartland Hospice, Riverdale, Ga. Born in Cebu City, The Philippines, she had resided in Manalapan before moving to Georgia. She was a pediatrician in private practice in Manalapan for 30 years before her retirement. She was predeceased by her husband Lawrence Burnham. She is survived by three daughters, Corine Burnham of Santa Fe, N.M., Yvette Couser of South Bend, Ind., Lorraine Loop of Tyrone, Ga.; one son, Scott Burnham of West Paulette, Vermont; a brother, Rudy Masecampo of The Philippines; and 12 grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Gabriel's Historic Church, Marlboro, and was followed by entombment at St. Gabriel's Mausoleum. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold was in charge of arrangements.